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I was not grown up in the U.S., nor in Japan. In order to…

“I was not grown up in the U.S., nor in Japan. In order to create a video game that people around the globe can enjoy and relate to, I can't draw things deeply rooted in the local culture that I'm not familiar with. That's why we are not doing games about football or samurai.” quote by Jenova Chen
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“I was not grown up in the U.S., nor in Japan. In order to create a video game that people around the globe can enjoy and relate to, I can't draw things deeply rooted in the local culture that I'm not familiar with. That's why we are not doing games about football or samurai.”

Jenova Chen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

To reach a global audience, creators must avoid culturally specific references that alienate unfamiliar players, focusing on universal experiences instead.

In simple terms: Make games with universal appeal, not local clichés.

Key Takeaway

Design for worldwide relatability.

Themes

globalization design culture inclusion

Mood

thoughtful inspired

Type

design philosophical

When to use this quote

  • video game development
  • international marketing
  • cross‑cultural teams

Key Concepts

cultural neutrality universal storytelling

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you embed cultural nuance without alienating others?
  • What universal emotions can drive gameplay?
A Different Perspective

Local themes may still resonate if contextualized, limiting pure universality.

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